Managing Methylene Chloride Risks for Occupational Users at UMD

Methylene chloride, which is also called "dichloromethane," is a volatile chemical that is most often used as a solvent in a variety of industries and applications, such as adhesives, paint and coating products, and metal cleaning. Paint stripping products that contain methylene chloride are widely available in retail stores for purchase by consumers and workers. Product names and ingredients change. Searching the Internet using the terms “Dichloromethane,” or “methylene chloride” and “paint and coating removal” produces results that include names of methylene chloride-containing products. 

In 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assessed the impact of methylene chloride on workers, occupational non-users, consumers, and bystanders. The primary health risks identified in the 2020 risk evaluation are neurotoxicity from short-term exposure to the chemical and liver effects and cancer from long-term exposure. After reviewing these data, EPA determined that risk to workers, occupational non-users (workers nearby but not in direct contact with this chemical), consumers, and bystanders drive the whole chemical determination of unreasonable risk (Risk Management for Methylene Chloride).

In April 2024, EPA finalized prohibitions and workplace protections under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for methylene chloride to protect human health. EPA’s final rule prohibitions which apply to UMD include most industrial and commercial uses of methylene chloride, including paint and coating removers. Where methylene chloride is used, strict workplace controls include setting of exposure limits, requirements for exposure monitoring, and PPE requirements.

Most prohibited uses will be fully phased out within 2 years. Alternative products with similar costs and efficacy to methylene chloride products are generally available for most prohibited uses. To discontinue use of methylene chloride products in our operations, ESSR has developed the Methylene Chloride (Dichloromethane) Survey to enable users and ESSR to identify safer alternatives to these products. 

As was presented in your Hazard Communication training, to determine if your products contain methylene chloride, consult the container label or safety data sheet (Section 3: Components).